Tala gazed for the last time to the unknown horizon where the teacher and his disciple came from, seemingly in thought.

Kalipsi and Uno noticed her indifferent look.

...

At the Lakan Family's border, beasts bathed with their own blood were lying on the cold ground, unmoved.

The Family's soldiers gathered to the barracks to be treated.

"Datu Lakan is coming! Ready for the greetings!" The leaders of each squad announced to every soldier under them.

In just a minute, hundreds of soldiers lined up forming an incredible formation. Though the majority of them were wounded, it did not hinder them to stand up straight like a brave one.

Datu Lakan and his six elders finally arrived in front of them all. Behind them were the three youths, unnoticed.

Datu Lakan stepped forward and said, "You all did great today. You have defended our land successfully. As your Datu, I make sure that each one of you will be rewarded."

After his words fell to each ear of every soldier, they all shouted, "Live a thousand years our Datu!"

Datu Lakan did not stay any longer.

Before he left, he gestured the squad leaders to report to him.

The report says that more than half of them were injured but fortunately, there was no death roll.

Datu Lakan heaved a sigh of relief. Inside him bloomed grat.i.tude towards the three youths. If not for the timely arrival of the three, they sure have been buried to the ground together with his people.

He knew the burden of fighting those twenty beasts, added the presence of Bungisngis.

"Truly students of the Kingdom," he murmured under his breath. 'This selection is our chance to produce such a genius one. I should pay more attention to it.' Datu Lakan thought resolutely.

Datu Lakan offered to mend the wound of the three especially Kalipsi and Uno, but the three youths denied. He did not insist on it for he thought that they might have more effective medicine.

…

Kalipsi and Uno did not return to their respective room. Instead, they stopped at Tala's room.

"Tala, what's the plan?" Kalipsi asked. Now that they have the invitation of a teacher himself from the Academy, they can go there whenever they want, but there was a compet.i.tion in the school.

Would they wait till the compet.i.tion ended, or go there immediately?

Uno looked at her with antic.i.p.ation.

"Let's finish our business here first," said Tala.

The two nodded in response.

"Uhm, Tala, are you planning on going there?" Kalipsi asked.

"Do you think there's a good treasure there?" Uno added.

"This two!" Tala didn't expect the two to be able to read her action. She cleared her throat and said, "Yes, I am planning on going there, but I'm not sure if there is a good treasure to find."

"I want to accompany you, can I?" Uno begged.

"Yes, I want too." Kalipsi said.

"No problem. We're going to go there after the selection. Make sure to mend your wounds or else, I will not let the two of you accompany me."

"Yes sir," Uno saluted. His voice was full of confidence.

"Should I do the same?" Kalipsi pointed Uno. His face showed an incredulous smile.

"Of course!" Uno dragged Kalipsi beside him. "Salute!"

"Why would I do it?" Kalipsi did not budge to where he stood.

"Just do it. It's fun." Uno force Kalipsi's hand to gestured a salute, but he was unable to. Kalipsi was stronger than him after all.

"Try it."

"I don't want!"

"Just do it"

"No!"

Tala found them cute. She was unable to suppress her laughter. It was just a small sound of laughter but it was enough to be heard by the two.

"You laughed?" Kalipsi asked.

Tala immediately suppressed her emotion and replied, "No, I did not."

"He laughed. I definitely heard it," Uno said. It's their first time hearing him laugh.

"I did not."

"Really?"

"Then why not let us make laugh?" Kalipsi slowly closed his distance to Tala whilst smiling. Uno followed suit. They are trying to tickle him.

Tala knew their difference. She was a girl after all. She jumped to the window and vanished from the darkness.

"He ran?" The duo looked at each other, dumbfounded. After ten seconds, laughter reverberated to Tala's room.

…

The sun hung up to the horizon cascading its glorious sun rays.

Inside the palace, main hall

Arriving at the palace of the Datu, Laz half-knelt, bowed and asked, "Is there anything I can do to your majesty?"

"Do you know Tala, Uno, and Kalipsi?"

Laz froze for a moment. 'How could their Datu know their name? Did their disappearance last night has something to do with it?' He pondered for a moment before he replied, "Yes, I know them."

"How did you know them?"

"They sold stones and brought storage rings and weapons too. I'm the one who accompanies them." Although baffled to why their Datu asked about those three, he eventually answered honestly. 'Those three haven't stirred up trouble, have they?'

"Actually, they fought the battle with me last night." Laz continued. He did not know the reason for the curiosity of his Datu, but he thought of redeeming the name of the three through their fight last night.

'Whatever they do, they have helped me.' Laz thought.

Datu Lakan investigated the movements of the three the day they vanished from their respective rooms, and he found out that the three met this young man, Laz. He was also informed about the trouble Dilaw have done.

Datu Lakan caressed his beard, pondering the words of Laz. "I want to hire you as one of my personal soldiers. Would you accept it?"

Laz was dumbfounded. Being a personal soldier of the Datu was like wearing the shoes of their Datu too. Privileges were come knocking to his door. He imagined how would his mother and little brother's life be.

He snapped out from daydreaming and exclaimed, "Of course!"

"That's good! From now on, hear my call and protect our land," Datu Lakan unsheathed his sword and rest in on Laz's shoulder.

"You can stand now."

Laz did what he instructed.

"From now on, you are the beholder of this sword," Datu Lakan extended his arms. Every personal soldier of his has the same style of sword. It just differs in quality once one of them achieve a breakthrough.

Laz bowed and accept the sword, "Thank you, your majesty."

"You can go. Inform this to your master and family."

"Yes, your majesty."

Laz left the main hall immediately. He couldn't wait to tell this news to his master and family.

Meanwhile, Datu Lakan stayed at his chair.

The strength of Laz was really formidable for his age, but it was not the time for him to a.s.sume the responsibility of becoming his personal soldier, but in order to harness a genius one, he has given that responsibility to Laz.

Datu Lakan surmised that Laz has already formed some connection with the three. He thought that with the aid of the three, Laz will become stronger than he imagine.

'Hope he will not let me down.'

He also thought that if their land ceased to exist, they can ask help from the kingdom through Laz. The appearance of the three wasn't ordinary, so he deduced that they might have a special position in the kingdom.

...

"The selection will be held tomorrow. What should we do for this day? Any suggestions?" Uno asked. He was just idly meditating to his room, so he came knocking at Tala's door while dragging Kalipsi with him.

"There's a peaceful mountain at North-" Tala has not finished his words because Uno cut him off.

"Right, let's go there to rest and enjoy the view of nature."

"No, we're going there to train," Tala's voice wasn't slow nor fast, but it made Uno almost vomit.

"Re...really?" Uno couldn't help but confirmed.

Tala nodded.

Uno looked at Kalipsi and found out that the youth does not intend to help him dissuade Tala from escaping the training. He could only accept it.

The trio just pa.s.sed by the stone hall when they b.u.mped to Laz.

"Good morning Tala, Uno, and Kalipsi. I hope that the sun rays brighten your day," a big smile that reached his ears where visible decorating Laz's face.

"Good morning Laz," Kalipsi and Uno simultaneously greeted.

"I guess something has good happen to you," Tala said.

"You are right Tala. Datu Lakan has just offered me to be one of his personal soldiers. That was a great opportunity for me and my family. I can now let my mother see a physician every day and we don't need to worry about everyday expenses." His words were fast but were enough to be understood.

"That's great. It calls for a celebration, right?" Uno suddenly thought of a plan. 'Is this the right time to escape from the training?' He hung his shoulder to Laz's shoulder and continued, "Lead us to a good restaurant."

Kalipsi pinched Uno's air and said, "Where do you think you're going? We are going to practice, remember?"

"Ouch! I know!" Uno tried his best to minimum the hurt of Kalipsi's pinch.

Hearing their conversation, Laz begged, "Can I join your training?"

"Sure! We're planning on training in a mountain located in the north. Let's go." Kalipsi loosened his grip to Uno's ear and led the way.